Fast Food Rockers

Fast Food Rockers
Origin Folkestone, England
Genres Bubblegum pop, Novelty song
Years active 2003–2004
Labels Better The Devil Records
Associated acts The Honeytraps
Past members Martin Rycroft
Lucy Meggitt
Ria Scott

The Fast Food Rockers were a British pop group known only for their novelty music. The band claim to have met at a fast-food convention in Folkestone.[1]

Career

Their most successful hit was their 2003 release, "Fast Food Song", which parodies the traditional folk melody "A Ram Sam Sam". The Dutch DJ Eric Dikeb made a Dutch song out of that traditional melody in 2001, called "Pizzahaha". At that moment, he was taking part in the Dutch television show Big Diet, in which contestants had to lose as much weight as they could over a few months. Therefore, Dikeb came up with the idea to use the names of his favourite fast-food restaurants in the song. "Pizzahaha" did not make it to the Dutch charts, but in Belgium the band Dynamite made a big hit out of it, with a Belgian version called "De Pizzadans". It also topped the charts in Germany, called "Burgerdance", by DJ Otzi.[2]

The Fast Food Rockers' version, adapted by Mike Stock, Steve Crosby and Sandy Rass, was the first release of independent record label Better The Devil Records. The song mentioned Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's. It reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart in June 2003, despite the criticism of cultural analysts who lamented the "collapse of culture into product placement".[3] The single would go on to sell 150,000 copies in the UK, and was in the year-end Top 40.

The band had its own mascot, a giant blue dog called "Hotdog" who followed the band around and appeared in all three music videos.

Their second single, "Say Cheese (Smile Please)" reached #10.

In 2003, there were rumours that the band did not sing on their own records. However, in an interview with CBBC Newsround, Lucy stated she "trained for three years at a performing arts school, Ria's been in the business for a long time, Martin's been in the business for a long time and we're very proud to say we do sing on [this] song".

After their attempt at a Christmas single only reached #25, and an album that failed to make the charts, their management company decided to drop the band in March 2004.

After the split, the band members found jobs outside of the music industry,[4] and in 2006, former band member Martin Rycroft was poached from his bar-tending job, to take part in the Channel 4/E4 show, Boys Will Be Girls,[5] where three former male popstars (including Russ Spencer from Scooch) tried to convincingly create a new girl band by former Brother Beyond star, Nathan Moore.

Discography

Albums

First released Title Notes
17 November 2003 Fast Food Rockers Uncharted

Singles

Released Single Chart positions Album
UK Singles Chart[6] Australian ARIA Charts
June 2003 "Fast Food Song" 2 56 Fast Food Rockers
October 2003 "Say Cheese (Smile Please)" 10 -
December 2003 "I Love Christmas" 25 - I Love Christmas - Single

References

  1. ↑ "CBBC Newsround - MUSIC - Full interview: Fast Food Rockers".
  2. ↑ Emimusicpub.com
  3. ↑ Guardian.co.uk
  4. ↑ "CBBC Newsround - MUSIC - The Fast Food Rockers are axed".
  5. ↑ Channel4.com
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 195. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Band

Members

Songwriters and producers

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